Fun the foundation for new ACIRT coordinator
Dave McNamara followed his scaffolder father into construction at 15. He started at the bottom with no qualifications, yet remembers being surrounded by characters and enjoying work so much he’d come home at night asking himself, “Do I get paid to do this? How much fun!”
Worksites were filled with banter and social gatherings after knock-off were common. No-one was referred to by their real name, and finding your boots nailed to the floor or your nail bag stapled to the wall (probably with your chisel siliconed into its pouch) was shrugged off as just another day on the tools.
Progress took time – not least because the training was so thorough. “You can always pick somebody who worked for a major company back then – Civil and Civic, Leightons, John Holland – because they’ve been taught properly. People might laugh, but you even got taught how to use the broom and shovel properly, you got taught how to clean.”
Starting out as the “peggy”, Dave would collect 60-70 “smokos” and lunches from the local shop, clean the toilets and sweep up the site. “You didn’t stuff anyone’s order up or you got chased out of the shed. But you did get a free feed – you’d pinch a few chips on the way back!”
Now, after 35 years in materials handling driving hoists, forklifts and tower cranes, he’s using the skills he picked up as a company Delegate to help lighten ACIRT Southern Region Coordinator Ben Manna’s load. Having been a founding member of ACIRT when it was launched in 1994, Dave knows how vital the fund is for workers’ security and peace of mind.
“The scheme is fantastic, and it’s quite unique. The union movement have fought to have it incorporated in their EBA, and I know how important it is for workers to have something to fall back on.”
Dave is a keen bike rider who loves being at home in the Blue Mountains. Yet he’s excited by the prospect of being on the road for ACIRT, not least because it’s already put him back in touch with many familiar faces who’ve crossed his path over a long construction journey.
“I love seeing the members, it’s great getting on a site. It’s fantastic that I’ve already been able to reacquaint with guys I haven’t seen for 20 years, it ignites some old memories of great fun.”